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BOB ELLIOTT, QMI Agency

Dec 6, 2011

, Last Updated: 11:32 PM ET

DALLAS, TEXAS - Alex Anthoupolos ran off tackle, hit the hole, and scampered into the end zone ... untouched.

Less than 48 hours after saying he felt the Blue Jays were on “the five-yard-line” in regards to a deal for a closer, the general manager obtained closer Sergio Santos from the Chicago White Sox for minor-league right-hander Nestor Molina.

The Jays examined the free agent market — talking to the Seth Levinson, agent for both Jonathan Paplebon and Heath Bell — with no luck.

Then, when it was expected they’d deal for either Andrew Bailey of the Oakland A’s or Huston Street of the Colorado Rockies, along came Santos.

The same Santos, who signed a club-friendly, three-year $8.25 million contract with three option years. He’s under the Jays control for the next six seasons.

TOUCHDOWN!

Anthopoulos laughed when asked again about his five-yard line analogy saying “baseball doesn’t had a red zone.”

In his first year closing Santos, who walked 29 and struck out 92 in 63 1/3 innings converted 30 of 36 save chances (83%). He was 4-5 with a 3.55 ERA, and a strike-out pitcher average of 13.9 pitches per inning — which is under hall of famer Whitey Ford’s ideal pitch count of 14 for an inning.

“We didn’t know Santos was available,” said an opposing GM, looking for bullpen help. “If we had, we’d have been on him. We knew the White Sox were trying to drop $10 million but we thought it would be John Danks ($6 million) and Matt Thornton ($5.5 million).

Scouts from other teams, those we spoke to last week and at the Anatole Hilton Hotel, ranked the Jays’ pitching prospects in this order: Aaron Sanchez, Drew Hutchison, Noah Syndergaard, Justin Nicolino, Deck McGuire, Chad Jenkins and Molina.

“We didn’t want to move one of our better prospects unless it was for a chance at a guy who fits the profile of an elite closer,” Anthopoulos told reporters. “Santos has electric stuff, not a lot of miles on his arm.

“We said no to the deal, Kenny said no, probably about 85 times each. We had a split camp.”

Some Jays scouts wanted to keep Molina, others thought the need was too great for a closer at the major league level.

We know which side of the campfire won.

“It took time to wrap our heads around it,” Anthopoulos said. “There were a lot of heated debates in our room. Ultimately, we felt with everything that we have going on, this made sense for us. He’s got the ninth.”

John Farrell wakes up a wiser man today, no longer having to try to decide between Jon Rauch or Frank Francisco, who will likely sign elsewhere now.

Now, if the snap from centre is on line and the hold is good, they’ll try for the convert.